TUOMAS LEHTO
BIOGRAPHY
Tuomas Lehto performs internationally both as a soloist and chamber musician and he can also be heard at many festivals. Lehto holds the position of 1. principal cellist with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, he is a member of the New Helsinki Quartet and the Total Cello Ensemble, as well as being the artistic director of the KuruFest festival. Together with the cellist Tuomas Ylinen they founded Cello Academy to provide additional learning opportunities for young cellists.
Tuomas Lehto began his cello studies at the age of three with teacher Anja Maja. In 2000 he continued his studies at the Sibelius Academy, first with Hannu Kiiski and later with Marko Ylönen and Jan-Erik Gustafsson. During the year 2007-2008 Lehto studied in Stockholm with Torleif Thedéen.
Lehto has made radio recordings for the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE) and has recorded frequently as a soloist and as a member of various ensembles. In addition he has premiered a number of works including Ville Matvejeff's cello concerto. He is a prizewinner of the Turku Cello Competition in 2006.